Conservation

Coasts

Protecting and restoring coastlines will strengthen populations of shorebirds while preserving the places they need to survive throughout their lives. The work needed to accomplish this goal will also protect coastal communities against the threat of sea-level rise due to a changing climate. Audubon’s Coasts initiative focuses on the most threatened and iconic bird species that rely on coastal habitats—estuaries, islands, beaches, and the marine environment—throughout the hemisphere. Audubon’s work will target the most important breeding, stopover, and wintering sites in each flyway for 16 flagship bird species. These actions will both stabilize and enhance the populations of those flagship species while simultaneously benefiting at least 375 other species that rely on similar habitats.

Theory of Change

By focusing on the biggest threats to 16 flagship bird species and the places they depend on, we will maximize our conservation impact and help build resilient coastlines. Those 16 flagship species represent at least 375 others as well as the ecosystems upon which they depend.

How to Get There

Audubon will:

Finalize baseline measures for 16 flagship species and habitats and identify threats at all key sites.

Pioneer new coastal resilience solutions that protect and enhance habitats critical to birds and that help protect coastal communities and infrastructure.

Mobilize our network to advocate for increased protections for seabirds, shorebirds, and coastal habitats, as well as funding for coastal conservation.

Measurable Goals

Increase or stabilize the popula tions of 16 flagship bird species by reducing threats at 500 priority sites.

Grow the coastal stewardship program to enlist 10,000 volunteers and partner with 130 coastal Audubon chapters, our BirdLife International partners, and other organizations to support conservation at the 500 priority sites.

Implement and influence climate adaptation strategies to address current and future threats to flagship species by restoring and protecting 300,000 acres of coastal wetlands and marshes.

Advance public policies to better manage coastal forage fisheries that are critically important food sources to our flagship species.

Reduce threats to seabirds and shorebirds from oil and gas development and shipping accidents on the Arctic coast and in adjacent marine waters.

With partners, establish a uniform, science-based approach to map priority sites, identify threats, and measure the biological response to conservation actions across the hemisphere in order to evaluate progress against these goals.

Audubon is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting birds and the places they need. We rely on our members for support. You can help us by making a donation today.

We're in a race against time — to give birds a fighting chance in a rapidly changing world. Your support will hellp secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss, and other threats.